Bassoons Across Nebraska are members of the Omaha and Lincoln Symphony orchestras, who seek to raise bassoon awareness throughout the state. These talented and versatile musicians perform music of a wide variety of styles, ranging from jazz, Latin, tangos, classical, popular, marches and opera. The Bassoons also perform music by Nebraska composers and have helped commission new works. Bassoons Across Nebraska is a participant in the Nebraska Arts Council Touring Program. The soulful and singular sounds of the bassoon quartet have been delighting audiences in bars, coffee houses, concert halls and schools in the region since their debut on the Lied Center’s 25th Anniversary Celebrate Concert in 2014.

Biography

Bassoons Across Nebraska is a bassoon quartet consisting of members from the bassoon sections in the Omaha and Lincoln Symphonies. Members of Bassoons Across Nebraska have been performing locally and state-wide for over 30 years. The Bassoons are:

• Karen Sandene
Second Bassoonist, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra
Contrabassoonist, Omaha Symphony

• Jim Compton
Principal Bassoon, Omaha Symphony Adjunct Bassoon Instructor, University of Nebraska, Omaha

• Jeff McCray
Principal Bassoon, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra
Associate Professor of Bassoon, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

• Wenmin Zhang
Assistant Principal Bassoon, Omaha Symphony

• Joyce Besch
Third/Contrabassoonist, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra